DC pipe bomb suspect Brian J. Cole Jr pleads not responsible in federal case

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The person accused of planting pipe bombs outdoors the Democratic and Republican events' headquarters 5 years in the past pleaded not responsible in a courtroom look on Friday.

Brian J. Cole, Jr was arrested by the FBI at his house in Virginia in early December, and faces two counts of transporting and making an attempt to make use of explosives.

The suspect was indicted on federal charges this week, FOX 5 reported.

He allegedly admitted to planting the bombs , which did not detonate, in downtown Washington, D.C. on the eve of the Jan.6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

FEDS SAY MAN ACCUSED OF PLANTING DC PIPE BOMBS CONFESSED, ADMITTING HE TARGETED BOTH PARTIES

Surveillance footage launched by the FBI exhibits the suspected DC pipe bomber strolling close to the DNC on Jan. 5, 2021, alongside a photograph of accused suspect Brian Cole Jr., who was ordered held whereas awaiting trial. (Division of Justice)

Regardless of initially denying his involvement to investigators, he ultimately allegedly admitted to planting the bombs when he was reminded that mendacity was an extra crime after being proven alleged surveillance video of him on the scene, in accordance with the Justice Division.

"In keeping with the defendant, he was not likely serious about how individuals would react when the bombs detonated, though he hoped there can be information about it," courtroom paperwork mentioned, including that he mentioned he was "relieved" when he heard they hadn’t detonated.

Sketch of Brian Cole Jr. first federal courtroom look in Washington D.C., Dec. 5. Cole is the lead suspect within the DC pipe bombing. (Dana Verkouteren)

Concerning his motive, Cole mentioned "one thing simply snapped" after "watching all the pieces, simply all the pieces getting worse" after the 2020 election , and he needed to do one thing, "to the events" as a result of "they had been in cost."

DC PIPE BOMB SUSPECT IDENTIFIED AT BRIAN COLE JR

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/672/378/fbi-pipe-bomb-suspect-surveillance-reward-fox-news-002.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/1344/756/fbi-pipe-bomb-suspect-surveillance-reward-fox-news-002.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/931/523/fbi-pipe-bomb-suspect-surveillance-reward-fox-news-002.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/1862/1046/fbi-pipe-bomb-suspect-surveillance-reward-fox-news-002.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> The suspect is seen outdoors the Democratic Nationwide Committee headquarters moments earlier than putting one among two pipe bombs found close to occasion workplaces in Washington, D.C. (FBI)

"Finally, it was luck, not lack of effort, that the defendant did not detonate one or each of his gadgets and that nobody was killed or maimed as a result of his actions," courtroom paperwork mentioned. "Certainly, the defendant admitted that he set each gadgets to detonate 60 minutes after he positioned them. His failure to perform his targets doesn't mitigate the profoundly harmful nature of his crimes."